The principal opposition party in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK, has officially shifted into high gear for the upcoming assembly elections. The party has announced a comprehensive, state-wide consultation tour to draft its manifesto and will soon begin the critical process of selecting its candidates.
Manifesto Committee Embarks on Grassroots Tour
A ten-member manifesto committee, led by senior party leader Natham R Viswanathan, held its inaugural meeting at the party headquarters on Monday. The panel has finalized an extensive schedule to connect with citizens across the state.
The committee's tour is set to commence on January 7 and will continue until January 20. During this two-week period, the team plans to cover all five zones of Tamil Nadu, encompassing every one of the state's 38 districts. The primary objective is to meet representatives from diverse sections of society, actively seeking their suggestions and inputs. These grassroots-level consultations will form the backbone of the party's election manifesto.
Scrutiny Begins for Thousands of Ticket Hopefuls
In a parallel and significant development, the AIADMK leadership will start the rigorous process of interviewing aspirants seeking the party's ticket to contest the elections. According to an official statement, these interviews will begin on January 9.
The scale of interest is substantial. The party has received a staggering 7,988 individual applications from hopeful candidates. In a show of support for party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, an additional 2,187 applications were submitted by party functionaries. These special requests urge Palaniswami to contest from their respective constituencies, highlighting his central role in the party's campaign strategy.
Strategic Moves Signal Full Election Mode
These synchronized actions mark a clear and formal transition into election campaigning for the AIADMK. By launching a wide-ranging manifesto tour, the party aims to project an image of being in touch with public sentiment and committed to a platform built on public consultation.
The imminent candidate selection process, dealing with over 9,000 applications, underscores the intense internal competition and the party's need to strategically allocate tickets to maximize its chances against the ruling DMK. The coming weeks will be crucial as the AIADMK finalizes its policy promises and chooses the faces to represent it in what is expected to be a tightly contested battle for Tamil Nadu.
